Mother's Day gifts inspired by science, technology, engineering and math

This isn’t a gadget-heavy list of Mother’s Day gift ideas. It’s a collection of gifts inspired by science, technology, engineering and math. The tech quotient is low, but the design bar is high. Each of these gifts shows how artists, craftspeople and industrial designers can put a geeky spin on the usual jewelry, flowers and accessories.

FOR MORE IDEAS: Check out our Mother’s Day gift guides from 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012

The BULBING Lamp isn’t quite what it appears to be at first glance. The lamp, made from an acrylic sheet, is surprisingly flat. The silhouette of a classic light bulb is engraved on the acrylic, creating the illusion of a round bulb. When the shape is inserted into the wood base, LED light travels through the engraved lines, lighting up the optical illusion. The BULBING Lamp was designed by Nir Chehanowski of Israeli design firm Studio Cheha ($120 at MoMA Store).

Aim for out-of-this-world with the Jupiter thin cuff bracelet ($28 from Etsy shop BeautySpot). It’s made from a picture printed on acrylic and covered with a glossy resin. The cuff is oval-shaped and oxidized for an antique look.

Inspire mom to travel lightly -- and brightly -- this spring with a handy wristlet that's just big enough for the essentials, including a phone. Pictured are two favorites: the perforated geometric Fret-T leather wristlet from Tory Burch ($225), and the striped Sydney zip-around wristlet ($65) from Fossil.

Bake with all the elements, thanks to Etsy shop BoeTech. You can choose an individual cookie-cutter element ($6.50 for single cookie cutters) or a collection such as the BaCON set, which includes 3D-printed cookie cutters for the elements barium, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen ($22 for the set). Make sure you check out BoeTech’s reminder about how dough spreads.

If you’re going to go for chocolate, go for quality. Antidote founder Red Thalhammer set out with a goal of "making a chocolate bar that feels more like a food rather than a sweet treat." Choose from 12 flavors, made with a range of fruits, nuts, salts and spices. Individual bars, such as the ginger + panela, are $6.95. Sets and boxes are also available.

The Orange Neural Network Puzzle is definitely a brainy puzzle. Available from Etsy shop Nervous System, it’s a laser-cut wood jigsaw puzzle made from a microscopic photograph of midbrain neurons (prices start at $30). The photograph was created by Tandis Vazin and David V. Schaffer at the Schaffer Lab, University of California, Berkeley.

The Scirocco Necklace ($167 from MoMA Store) was designed by Mario Trimarchi, who was inspired by his childhood memories of playing cards that would swirl in the air from gusts of Sicilian wind. The dramatic necklace is made from mirror-polished stainless steel.

Go old-school for mom with a notebook inspired by vintage textbook diagrams of pulleys, projectiles and other mechanical illustrations. Inside are alternating pages of lined paper and graph paper ($15 from Etsy shop CognitiveSurplus).

Choose a special word or phrase to personalize this chic wrap bracelet for mom (prices start at $80). Designed by Martha Lytton Van Trees of Etsy shop UrbanJule, the bracelet is handmade from leather with a hand-cut sterling silver plate riveted to the leather wrap with bronze rivets. The metal clasp is magnetic.

There's not much geeky about a hammock, but it's still a great Mother's Day gift. Pictured is the Vivere double hammock with a steel stand ($129.97 from Amazon). Perfect for a mom who needs a break from technology.

Designers Jessica Rosenkrantz and Jesse Louis-Rosenberg of Nervous System were inspired by the biomechanics of nature their Florescence collection, which simulates growing flora and fauna. The Pink Flora Cuff ($65 from MoMA Store), made from 3D-printed nylon, features a complex blend of micro ruffles and undulations.

There are a slew of coloring books geared for grownups who want to relax, retreat and do something creative. Fantastic Cities ($9.24 on Amazon) has coloring sheets for global cities including New York, Istanbul, Tokyo and Rio, as well as intricate, fantasy architectural illustrations for "deeper meditative coloring adventures."

Mother's Day gifts that require cooking or cleaning in order to be used can be risky. But this is a worthwhile risk. The dragon cake pan ($24.99 from ThinkGeek) is about fun, not obligation. Hopefully.

Make family game night more likely to happen with the Pixel backgammon set from Wolfum ($130). The pixel design is hand-printed on Baltic birth wood. Each kit includes two sets of checkers and two sets of dice.

Sick of always having a smartphone within arm's reach, even at night? The low-tech vibe of the wooden Routare alarm clock ($65 from MoMA Store) is a welcome substitute for moms who want a little distance from their devices. Designer Mayuko Kuwata was inspired by the shape and colors of children's toy blocks.

Love may be unmeasurable, but this cuff has its limits. The Wooden School Ruler cuff ($25) from Etsy shop Neurons Not Included is a printed aluminum bracelet, which can be adjusted to fit. If the ruler doesn’t measure up, there are plenty more science-inspired pieces on the shop’s site.

If mom is a fan of geometry, this set of three handcrafted Rampli Axo bowls ($85) might turn her head. The solid ash bowls have a printed Baltic birch inlay with a bold line pattern. The designer is Wolfum, in collaboration with furniture designer 100xbtr.